A first in 45 years: Rajya Sabha passes private member's bill

New Delhi: For the first time in 45 years, the Rajya Sabha on Friday unanimously passed a private member's bill to give equal rights to transgenders.

"It is a unanimous decision of the house... This is a rare thing," Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien announced after the bill was passed.

The bill envisages creation of a national commission for transgender communities, and state level commissions.

DMK member Tiruchi Shiva, who moved The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, said: "We say human rights are for all, why some people are neglected."

"We all have human rights, whatever our gender identity. The bill I have presented is for an act which will create an equal society as it recognises and protects transgender persons, in all spheres of life," said Shiva.